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Progress for School Choice in New Jersey

Last night, school choice was the topic of discussion at a Delaware Valley High School Board of Education meeting in New Jersey. On the agenda was the possibility of accepting students in the the state’s school choice program. If Delaware Valley does accept state-funded choice students, they would be the third high school in the county to do so.

They have until April to apply to be named a school choice district, although they are hoping to decide by December. After an application is filed, the state would determine whether or not to name Delaware Valley a school choice district. The state would then pay the tuition for these students, the number of which, and in which grade levels, would be determined by the school. Upon approval, out-of-district students would be able to apply to attend starting in the 2014-15 school year. In the event that there are more applications than spaces, a lottery would be held.

South Hunterdon Regional High School was the first high school in the county to take choice students. They received approval in May 2011 to accept 18 students in grades 8-11 and they are currently taking applications for students to begin next school year.

No decisions were made last night, but the dialogue is an important step forward for educational reform.

Maybe, maybe not.Charter schools are changing public and private school enrollment patterns across the United States. This study analyzes district-level enrollment patterns for all states with charter schools, isolating how charter schools affect traditional public and private school enrollments after controlling for changes for the socioeconomic, demographic, and economic conditions in each district.

Education reform has often been ignored by the political establishment and the media elite, with little focus being placed on the failures of the American education system. Despite the neglect, an underground school choice movement that unites both Right and Left has been gaining ground over the past 20 years, scoring an increasing number of victories for education reform in many states over the past two years. As the movement continues to gain valuable momentum, school choice advocates are beginning to gain attention from Hollywood of all places.

Low Country 9-12 hosted a great forum on School Choice in Summerville, South Carolina this past Wednesday, with over 60 activists showing up to the event.Speakers at the forum included: Dr. David Longshore, a South Carolina School Board member; Ray Moore, from Exodus Mandate; Joe Kress, from the Dorchester County Taxpayers; and our very own Julie Borowski, a Policy Analyst here at FreedomWorks.

On Wednesday, I was a guest on a local radio show broadcasting out of Harrisburg. During the 45 minute interview, I was to discuss school choice and why FreedomWorks is supporting vouchers. Unlike many of the interviews I have done in the past, this one was downright hostile. Not suspecting the amount of misinformation being spread about vouchers, I was caught off guard by a caller who took time to lash out about FreedomWorks stance on the issue.

As a vote on school choice reform looms closer in Pennsylvania, a potential school choice victory in New Hampshire is moving forward. Two bills promising to provide tax credits to businesses that donate to nonprofit scholarships have been passed by both houses of the legislature. Despite the governor’s "real concerns" about the proposed legislation, both bills have veto-proof majority support. While opponents argue that these bills will take money ou

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania has been a center for the fight for school choice.On June 6, with only five activists and four hundred signs, Harrisburg was invaded by school choice signs. The signs sent a message to the Pennsylvania legislators because a school choice bill is to be voted on soon.

On Tuesday, South Carolina's Senate Finance Committee voted YES on H.4894, moving school choice to a final vote on the Senate floor.We're one step away from finally putting South Carolina students and parents in control of education!

With only seven days left in the legislative session South Carolina school choice hangs in the balance. For the past six months FreedomWorks activists and local groups have been working tirelessly to pass H.4894, a meaningful education reform bill that will help to improve South Carolina's failing schools.

For more than a year FreedomWorks and local activists have been working hard to bring education reform to Pennsylvania. Concerned families, school choice supporters, bold legislators and even the governor himself have stood up with us against Pennsylvania's education establishment in an effort to reform the state's failing school system. Despite this bi-partisan support, some legislators have chosen to ignore the voters, failing to protect the needs of students, and instead voting to preserve union power.

Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina sat down with Max Pappas to discuss the importance of getting school choice passed in South Carolina.Call your State Senators and ask them to please vote Yes on H.4894